McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary has treated hundreds of native
animals that were sick or injured. Everything from foxes to bobcats,
Sandhill Cranes to pelicans, hawks, owls, and many others have received
veterinarian care by our staff and then were released back into the
wild. Without the support of our volunteers and members, it would
be impossible to continue the work for this valuable cause.

Many
of the exotic animals have been donated to us by wildlife officers
who confiscated these innocent creatures from the previous owners
because of neglect, abuse, or illegal possession. Some were pets
that owners could no longer care for and felt McCarthy's Wildlife
Sanctuary would provide the animals a safe haven. With over ninety
permanent resident animals at the sanctuary, the cost of housing
these magnificent creatures is staggering. Twenty-two of the animals
are large cats and, being carnivores, they consume one thousand
pounds of meat each week. All of our funding comes from the community
and, in return, we provide an excellent educational program that
is thrilling and informative.

While
on tour you will see everything from White Tigers to Black Leopards,
Ruffed Lemurs to Kinkajous, Scarlet Macaws to Black Palm Cockatoos,
Red tail Hawks to Great Horned Owls and Albino Burmese Pythons to
Green Mambas! Dress appropriately - closed shoes and long pants
are advised and hats and sunscreen are also suggested. Tours last
about 60 - 90 minutes.

McCarthy's Wildlife Sanctuary is licensed by the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, the United States Department of
Agriculture's Animal Welfare Act, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior. We are a non-profit 501-(c)-3-wildlife
rehabilitation facility.

Mark McCarthy has worked professionally with animals since 1972. His
past experience started at the famous venom research lab, the Miami
Serpentarium of South Miami, Florida, as a reptile keeper. Taking
care of reptiles and conducting tours of the facility was his main
job, but he also assisted the director, William E. Haast, with venom
extractions on stage. This was also where his first encounter with
exotic cats started. Naia Haast had a pet lion named Leonard.

He then worked with several animal dealers and private collectors
in the Miami area for the next several years. This was where he gained
a vast amount of knowledge in animal care. He has worked with everything
from jaguars and cheetahs to cobras and orangutans. Over those years,
Mark studied wildlife throughout the southwestern and southeastern
US, Mexico, Panama, Columbia, Galapagos Islands, and his all time
favorite place, Tanzania.

In 1990, Mark moved to Palm Beach County and built the McCarthy's
Wildlife Sanctuary. Located on five acres of slash pine and palmetto
forest in West Palm Beach, here was where he decided that the children
of the world should learn to respect the land and nature around them.
Then Mark started the educational programs. The response was sensational.
For the past sixteen years, he has performed over 6,000 wildlife programs
reaching over 500,000 students in South Florida. He has taken in over
4,000 injured native animals and saved the lives of hundreds. Hundreds
of exotic animals have been adopted by the sanctuary over the years
and many are now permanent residents.